# City of Tulsa — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 98-0380  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1999-01-13

98-0380 response to City of Tulsa concerning 171.1.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Research and
Special Programs
Administration
JAN 1 3 1999
Mr. Richard Bingham
Ref. No. 98-0380
City of Tulsa
707 so. Houston, Room 202
Tulsa,
OK 74127
Dear Mr. Bingham:
This is in response to your letter of December 18, 1998,
requesting clarification of whether government vehicles
transporting hazardous materials are subject to the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) .
Shipments of hazardous materials transported by a government
entity in vehicles operated by government personnel for
noncommercial purposes are not subject to the HMR (including
placarding). However, if the purpose is commercial or if the
government entity offers hazardous material for transportation
to commercial carriers, then the HMR apply.
I hope this satisfies your request:
Sincerely,
40088
Transportation Regulations Specialist
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 2>>>

12/18/98
FRI 09:11 TEL 918 596 1814
HRD EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
41001
BAH
U.S. Department of Transportation
Edward Mazzullo
S1.l
Director of OHMS
4007 St. SW.
98-0380
Washington D.C. 20590
Dear Mr. Mazzulo
We are requesting clarification of whether shipments of
hazardous materials transported by government entity in
vehicles operated by government personnel for
noncommercial purposes are subject to the Hazardous
Material Regulations HMR;49 CFR parts 171-180
including placarding).
Your reply is greatly appreciated:
Sincerely,
Safety Director
City of Tulsa
707 so. Houston
Room 202
Tulsa Oklahoma
74127

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980380.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `95c011004c701110d288ae5d70e641f7e56b055c319c433d2a77c03f01cb0382`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-26T12:27:38.295Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-98-0380`

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